Resource allocation theory, Polich (2007) suggests cortical measures may attenuate when processing demands increase. Thirteen HIV-negative women (M = 36.5) and 15 HIV-positive women (M = 36.1) infected were instructed to view neutral and negative IAPS images and then to detect rare tones in a subsequent auditory oddball task. A 2 x 2 ANOVA for the auditory P3 did not indicate a main effect for picture valence however an interaction was found between picture valence and serostatus at location Fz, F(1,24) = 18.99, p<.001. During the visual ERP sequence an interaction between valence and serostatus was found at the Pz location, F(1,24) = 18.99, p<.001, meaning the late positive potential (LPP) was not modulated between viewing neutral and negative images in HIV-positive women. These findings suggest that the manifestation of HIV in women may alter the neural processing of emotions, though not to the detriment of a subsequent cognitive task. / by Roger C. McIntosh. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2010. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2010. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

HIV is major public problem in the world and in Sub-Saharan Region in particular. The literature has shown that mental disorders and particularly depression are common among people living with HIV/AIDS, but that little is known about the prevalence of depression and factors associated with it, among people living with HIV/AIDS in Rwanda. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was done to assess the prevalence of depression, the clinical profile and the factors associated with depression among people living with HIV and attending a primary health care centre in Kigali-Rwanda. This study was informed by the stress and vulnerability framework. A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and HIV related medical information, while depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory Scale, with a cut off of less than 10 for no depression and above 10 scoring positive for depression. Respondents were randomly selected from the patient appointment list for patients who were scheduled during the period of data collection and according to the sample selection criteria. The sample consisted of 96 people living with HIV. Permission to conduct the study was requested and obtained from the University of Kwazulu-Natal Ethics Committee, from the CNLS Research and Ethics Committee in Rwanda and from the management of the health care centre to consult patients' files. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS for window, 15). Descriptive data was analyzed by means of frequencies, mean and standard deviation. Cross tabulation using Pearson' chi-square test was performed to test the association between sociodemographic factors and HIV related medical information and depression for categorical variables, while t-test for independent simple test was performed for continuous variable. Multi logistic regression analysis was performed to test further association between the above mentioned factors with depression, while controlling for confounders. The results were presented by means of tables, histograms and graphs. The findings of the study revealed that depression is very high among HIV-infected patients attending a primary health care centre in Kigali, with a prevalence of 41.7%. The most frequent depressive symptoms presented were pessimism, fatigability, sad mood; lack of satisfaction, somatic preoccupation, loss of libido, crying spells, work inhibition, irritability, social v withdrawal and loss of appetite. The majority of respondents scored mild to moderate depression, whereas few had moderate to severe depression and only very few scored severe depression. Having considered all other socio-demographic and HIV related medical factors that were studied, being a female, having presented many HIV-related symptoms in the month prior to data collection, and having less than 250 CD4 counts were statistically associated with depression. On the other hand, having high social and family support was a protector factor to depression. Although the results of this study are not generalizable to the Rwandan population living with HIV, they underscore the importance of integrating mental health in HIV/AIDS services for the care of those who present mental problems related to HIV such as depression. / Thesis (MN)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

The present study examined psychosocial variables as predictors of psychological distress and well-being in gay men with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The psychosocial variables investigated included communal and agentic personality variables, social support, as well as social hindrance, and self-determination variables. The total sample comprised 126 gay men. Forty-eight were seropositive for the HIV infection, 40 received a diagnosis of AIDS, and 38 were seronegative for the HIV infection. The participants with HIV and AIDS were recruited from Immunodeficiency clinics and the HIV$-$ participants were friends and acquaintances of the HIV+ and AIDS participants. The three groups of participants completed questionnaires assessing stable personality traits such as dependency and self-criticism, intimacy, affiliation, achievement, and power strivings, perceived and received social support, social hindrance of personal strivings, and levels of self-determination such as introjective and identified striving motivation. / Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to assess the predictive utility of each independent variable in predicting psychological distress and well-being. Perceived social support, striving intimacy, and striving achievement were found to be negatively associated with distress and positively associated with well-being across the three groups. Dependency, self-criticism, social hindrance, social hindrance of striving power, and introjective striving motivation were positively associated with distress and negatively with well-being. When all significant independent variables were entered in a regression analysis and simultaneously predicted the outcome variables, perceived social support, self-criticism and social hindrance of strivings significantly predicted psychological distress, and perceived social support, self-criticism, identified and introjective striving motivation predicted psychological well-being. Several independent variables were stronger predictors of distress in the HIV+ group than in the AIDS group: striving power, social hindrance of striving power, dependency, and perceived social support. Results suggest that the HIV+ group is distinct psychologically from the AIDS group. The self-concept theory and the cognitive adaptation theory were discussed in order to explain these group differences. The findings of the present study highlight the important impact psychosocial variables can have on the psychological adjustment of gay men with HIV and AIDS.

This survey was designed to identify the incidence and scope of depression, satisfaction with life, self-efficacy and perceived access to medical care for those who are infected with the HIV virus. It also determined whether or not factors such as sexual orientation, ethnicity and socioeconomic status are intervening variables with respect to mental health issues. Subjects were recruited through a purposive sample from South Florida. A total of 871 surveys were used in the analysis. The overall response rate was nearly 90%. The incidence of depression was found to be higher than 75% across all stages of HIV infection. Furthermore, the incidence of depression increased as HIV disease progressed. Satisfaction with life and for the most part, self efficacy were found to decrease slightly as HIV disease progressed. Significant variance in depression, life satisfaction and self efficacy were found across stages of HIV infection. No significant differences between groups that were HIV infected, were found for depression, life satisfaction and self efficacy. The severity of depression was found to vary significantly with self efficacy, life satisfaction and access to medical care but not with socioeconomic status. Life satisfaction was found to vary significantly with socioeconomic status, depression and self efficacy but not with access to medical care, Self-efficacy was found to vary significantly with socioeconomic status, depression and life satisfaction but not with access to medical care. Gender and ethnicity were not found to be significant precedent variables in depression for HIV infected individuals. Sexual orientation was found to be a significant precedent variable for depression, life satisfaction and self efficacy.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to measure the level of self-efficacy in coping methods among people living with HIV/AIDS.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Optimal adherence to antiretroviral medication is essential for effective treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and ensuring high levels of adherence has proven to be a major challenge in the fight against HIV. As funding for antiretroviral treatment (ART) programs is limited, ensuring optimal adherence is critical, not only to decrease patient mortality and improve quality of life, but also to make these ART programs financially sustainable. In recent years a small but growing body of literature on the associations between social support, common mental disorders and adherence to ART has emerged. This thesis builds on the burgeoning body of studies by seeking to test the associations between level of perceived social support, symptoms of common mental disorders, and adherence to ART among a South African sample of ART users. The study investigated a convenience sample of 101 patients living with HIV, and receiving ART from a state funded HIV clinic in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, South Africa. A cross-sectional survey design was used to gather self-report data on the level of perceived social support, severity of symptoms of common mental disorders, and adherence to ART. Bivariate correlations demonstrated significant negative associations between perceived social support and severity of symptoms of common mental disorders, specifically symptoms of depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Biserial correlations and logistic regression analysis indicated an inverse relationship between severity of symptoms of depression and self-reported ART adherence. However, when symptoms of anxiety and PTSD were included as predictors, the association between symptoms of depression and self-reported ART adherence was no longer significant. Furthermore, no significant relationships were found between self-reported ART adherence and symptoms of anxiety and PTSD. Follow-up research is recommended to gain a better understanding of these relationships. A longitudinal experimental research design is recommended to determine the direction of causality with regard to the association between symptoms of depression and adherence to ART. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Optimale nakoming van antiretrovirale medikasie is noodsaaklik vir effektiewe behandeling van die menslike immuniteitsgebreks virus (MIV), en een van die groot uitdagings in die stryd teen MIV is om hoë vlakke van nakoming te verseker. Aangesien die beskikbare fondse vir antiretrovirale behandeling (ARB) beperk is, is dit van kritiese belang om optimale nakoming te verseker, nie net om sterftes te verminder en lewenskwaliteit te verbeter nie, maar ook om ARB programme finansieël volhoubaar te maak. In die afgelope jare, het daar 'n klein maar groeiende liggaam van literatuur oor die assosiasies tussen sosiale ondersteuning, algemene geestesversteurings, en nakoming van ARB na vore gekom. Hierdie proefskrif bou voort op die groeiende liggaam van studies deur om die verhoudings tussen waargenome sosiale ondersteuning, simptome van algemene geestesversteurings, en nakoming van ARB onder 'n Suid-Afrikaanse steekproef van ARB gebruikers te toets. Die studie het ondersoek gedoen op 'n gerieflikheidsteekproef van 101 pasiënte wat MIV positief is, en ARB ontvang by 'n staats befondse MIV-kliniek in die Overberg-streek van die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika. 'n Deursnee-opname ontwerp is gebruik om self-verslag data te kry oor die vlak van waargenome sosiale ondersteuning, simptome van algemene geestesversteurings, en nakoming van ARB. Tweeveranderlike korrelasies het gedui op 'n beduidende negatiewe verhouding tussen waargenome sosiale ondersteuning and simptome van algemene geestesversteurings, spesifiek simptome van depressie, angs en post-traumatiese stresversteuring (PTSS). Biseriale korrelasies and logistieke regressie-analise het 'n beduidende inverse verhouding tussen simptome van depressie and self-gerapporteerde ARB nakoming getoon. Die verhouding tussen simptome van depressie and self-gerapporteerde ARB nakoming was egter nie meer beduidend na die symptome van angs en PTSS as voorspellers ingesluit was nie. Verder was daar geen beduidende verhoudings gevind tussen self-gerapporteerde ARB nakoming en simptome van angs en PTSS nie. Verdere navorsing word aanbeveel om 'n beter begrip van hierdie verhoudings te verkry. 'n Longitudinale eksperimentele ontwerp word aanbeveel om vas te stel wat die rigting van oorsaaklikheid is ten opsigte van die verhouding tussen simptome van depressie en nakoming van ARB.

The purpose of this study was to present and understand the experiences of HIV-positive lay counsellors working in Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) settings. Specifically exploring and understanding the utilisation of personal experiences within counselling encounters, the practice of peer counselling within VCT, and the challenges experienced by HIV-positive lay counsellors within VCT settings. This study, employing a qualitative interpretative phenomenological methodology required a small sample of practicing HIV-positive lay counsellors, who were selected and interviewed on their experiences utilising semi-structured interviewing. Data was analysed for meaning units, which were interpreted inductively and hermeneutically, and categorised into super-ordinate themes. Three superordinate themes within the participants’ experiences of providing VCT services were determined, namely: ‘diagnosis and disclosure experiences’, ‘peer counselling’, and ‘challenges’. This research found that the experiences of providing peer counselling depended upon identification with their client’s negative appraisal of their diagnosis experiences. Whether through empathic connections generated through the shared experience of discovering a seropositive status, or through countertransferential reactions induced through their client’s yearning for care and support. This required the counsellor to selfdisclose within counselling encounters in order to provide personal experiences of living with HIV/AIDS. Successful implementation of peer counselling provided recently diagnosed individuals with knowledge surrounding HIV/AIDS, coping skills to manage the daily physiological and psychological challenges, facilitation and adherence to treatment, social assistance, ongoing relationships, inspiring hope, and the creation of positive appraisals. However the informal utilisation of task-shifting within lay healthcare cadres, and the lack of governmental recognition for the emotional labour provided within VCT indicated that HIVpositive lay counsellors require ongoing training, support and remuneration to limit potential occupational stress, resignation, and burnout.

Introduction. HIV positive men who have sex with men (HIVMSM), facing severe stigma and many stressors, have high prevalence of mental health problems, such as depression. However, there is a lack of mental health promotion and treatment services targeting HIVMSM in China. The Three Good Things (TGT) exercise is one of the commonly used positive psychology interventions; its benefits in reducing depression have been scientifically proven in many disease groups. Yet, TGT has not been applied among HIVMSM. In addition, social support has shown to be protective of depression. The emergence of electronic social media allows for integration of social networking and TGT exercise among HIVMSM. / Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a one-month online intervention combining TGT with social networking (TGT-SN) versus a control of dissemination of information in reducing depressive symptoms among HIVMSM in Chengdu, China. / Methods. A randomized controlled trial design was applied. A total of 205 HIVMSM were recruited and randomly assigned to the TGT-SN (N=100) or control group (N=105) by four well-trained peer fieldworkers. Self-administered surveys were given to all participants at baseline, at the end of the 1-month intervention (T1), and at the 3-month (T2) and 6-month (T3) post-intervention follow-ups. The intervention was delivered via “QQ”, the most widely used Chinese social networking service. Participants in TGT-SN group were divided into four “QQ” groups, each the size of 20-30 persons. Participants in TGT-SN were asked to post three things they experienced that they feel grateful about daily onto the QQ platform and share them with members of their group. They were also asked to read others’ messages and give positive and encouraging feedbacks to those messages. Members of the control group received information about mental health promotion from research assistants via QQ once a week during the one-month intervention period. The primary mental health outcome was probable case of mild to severe depression measured by Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Secondary psychological outcomes include depressive symptoms, anxiety, positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, subjective happiness, gratitude level, and perceived social support. Generalized Estimating Equation models were fit. Structural equation modeling was applied for mediation analysis. / Results. Among all participants, the prevalence of probable mild, moderate, and severe depression were, respectively, 14.6%, 9.3%, and 35.6% at baseline. All baseline background characteristics and outcome measures were balanced (statistically non-significant) between the two groups. Based on data obtained at T1, T2 and T3 that were analyzed by GEE model, there was a significant main effect of TGT-SN on reducing depression (B=-2.35, 95% CI=-4.53, -0.16, p=0.035), indicating significantly lower depression score in the intervention group as compared with that of control group. Nonetheless, such significant effect became non-significant (B=-1.67, 95% CI=-3.79, 0.46, p=0.124) when controlled for baseline depression score. Significant differences were also found between the TGT-SN and the control group in anxiety symptoms (B=-1.14, 95% CI=-2.06, -0.22, p=0.016) and negative affect (B=-2.08, 95% CI=-3.62, -0.55, p=0.008). The effect of TGT-SN on reducing depression was most evident at T3. Structural equation modeling indicated that gratitude and negative affect fully mediated the effect of TGT-SN in reduction of depression and anxiety (mediation effect=-0.17, 95% CI=-0.30, -0.04, p<0.05) at T3. / Conclusions. TGT-SN is a feasible, acceptable, sustainable, and scalable intervention to improve mental health among HIVMSM. It is warranted to increase awareness and policy support for mental health services for people living with HIV (PLWH). Mental health services should be integrated into the HIV/AIDS care system as a key component. Future translational studies are needed to further investigate the efficacy and effectiveness of the intervention in other groups of PLWH and in other cultures and countries. / 研究背景：艾滋病在男男性接觸（men who have sex with men, MSM）人群中的感染率正在以前所未有的速度在我國蔓延。艾滋病陽性的男男性接觸（HIV positive men who have sex with men, HIVMSM）人群面臨極大的壓力，心理疾病（例如抑鬱症）的患病率很高。但是，目前我國對HIVMSM人群的心理健康服務比較缺乏。“三件好事情”是最被廣泛使用的能有效降低抑鬱症的積極心理學干預。這項練習要求參與者每天寫下三件令他們感到高興或者感激的事情。“三件好事情”這兩練習還沒有在HIVMSM 人群中應用。此外，社會支持對抑鬱症有保護作用。電子社交網絡是一種潛在的有效的平台，可以將調查對象（HIVMSM）的“好事情”相互傳遞，加強“三件好事情”的效果。 / 研究目的：本研究的目的是在中國成都市使用隨機對照研究評估積極心理學結合社會網絡干預對減少HIVMSM人群抑鬱症的效果。 / 研究方法：本研究採用隨機對照試驗。四名同伴調查員共招募205位HIVMSM，其中100人被隨機分配到“三件好事情結合電子社交網絡組（TGT-SN）”，105人被分配到對照組。所有參與本研究的調查對象將在隨機分組之前完成基線調查（T0），並在一個月的干預結束時（T1）、干預結束后三個月（T2）、十二個月（T3）時完成隨訪調查。 / TGT-SN干預通過騰訊QQ實施。騰訊QQ是在中國最被普遍使用的社交網絡。TGT-SN組的調查對象將被分配到4個QQ組，每組20-30人。TGT-SN干預要求調查對象在一個月的干預期，每天需要完成以下三個任務：i）每天回想當天發生的三件或以上令自己開心、感激的事情，并將這三件好事情發佈到各自的QQ群留言板；ii）每天閱讀本QQ群其他組員發佈的三件好事情；iii）每天對組員發佈的三件好事情進行正面的積極的評論。被隨機分配到對照組的調查對象在一個月的干預期內，每週收到一條有關心理健康促進的信息。 / 本研究的主要結果為抑鬱症狀，採用美國國立衛生研究院流行病學研究中心抑鬱量表。次級結果包括焦慮症狀、正性和負性情緒、生活滿意度、主觀幸福感、感恩心理、以及社會支持。分析採用廣義估計方程模型（GEE）。中介效應分析採用結構方程模型。 / 研究結果：所有調查對象中，59.5%有輕度到重度抑鬱症（CESD≥16）。TGT-SN和對照組基線所有的背景變量及結果變量均無顯著性差異。基於對T1、T2和T3數據的GEE模型分析，相比于對照組，TGT-SN對降低抑鬱症有顯著主效應（B=-2.35, 95% CI=-4.53, -0.16; p=0.035）。但是此顯著主效應在控制基線抑鬱症狀后變為不顯著（B=-1.67, 95% CI=-3.79, 0.46, p=0.124）。相比于對照組，TGT-SN對降低焦慮症狀（B=-1.29, 95% CI=-2.22, -0.36; p=0.007）和負性情緒（B=-2.24, 95% CI=-3.73, -0.74; p=0.003）也有顯著效果。TGT-SN對降低抑鬱症的效果在T3最為顯著。結構方程模型表明，負性情緒和感恩心理對TGT-SN干預降低T3時抑鬱症和焦慮症的效果中發揮完全中介效應（中介效應=-0.17, 95%置信區間=-0.30, -0.04; p<0.05）。 / 研究結論：TGT-SN能有效減少HIVMSM人群的心理健康問題（例如抑鬱症和焦慮症），並且是可行的和被HIVMSM所接受的干預措施。TGT-SN練習的實施成本較低並且不需要心理學專家的參與，因此可以在資源有限的國家和地區（例如中國）推廣實施。未來需要更多的研究來評估TGT-SN干預在其他艾滋病病毒感染者人群中以及其它國家的效力和效果。" / Li, Jinghua. / Thesis Ph.D. Chinese University of Hong Kong 2015. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-149). / Abstracts also in Chinese; some appendixes in Chinese. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on 06, October, 2016). / Li, Jinghua. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only.

by Joe Chan Bing Hang. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 48-54). / Abstracts in English and Chinese; questionnaire in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / Chapter CHAPTER I - --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER II - --- METHOD --- p.23 / Chapter CHAPTER III - --- RESULTS --- p.29 / Chapter CHAPTER IV - --- DISCUSSION --- p.38 / REFERENCES --- p.48 / APPENDIX --- p.55